Long Island woman is arrested for death of vocal coach who she shoved in the street

A Long Island events coordinator has handed herself into police for the death of an 87-year-old vocal coach who died after being shoved over in the street two weeks ago. 

Lauren Pazienza, 26, is in custody now for the death of Barbara Gustern, a beloved Broadway vocal coach who died on March 15, five days after being pushed over in what police thought was a random attack. 

Gustern was walking towards a cab outside her Chelsea apartment building when she was attacked from behind. 

Lauren Pazienza is shown in a social media photo. She handed herself in to police on Tuesday and has now been charged with manslaughter 

Broadway singing coach Barbara Maier Gustern died in a hospital Tuesday morning after she was put on life support following a random shoving attack last week

Pazienza is shown walking near the scene of the crime on March 10 at around 8.30pm. The motive remains unclear 

The NYPD released photos of a flame-haired young woman who they said may have been responsible for the attack. She appeared to be getting on the subway shortly afterwards. 

That woman has now been identified as Pazienza, who lives in Astoria, Queens, with her fiance.

She is from Port Jefferson, Long Island.   

Gustern’s family has not yet commented on her arrest. 

It remains unclear if there is any connection between the pair or if it was a random attack.  

On March 10, Gustern – a beloved Broadway vocal coach – was walking towards a cab outside her apartment building in Chelsea when she was pushed from behind at 8.30pm. 

She hit her head and went into a coma, then died four days later. 

Pazienza handed herself in with a lawyer on Tuesday morning.  

She lives in a one-bedroom apartment in Shore Towers, a doorman building in Astoria, with her fiance.

The apartment was last sold in 2019 for $540,000, according to public records. Pazienza’s fiance is listed as the owner, along with a relative.  

Gustern’s grandson AJ has been updating her Facebook page. She died on March 15 – four days after being pushed to the ground